My Favourite Books Read In 2024 – substack.com

Fiction and non-fiction faves.

Today I thought it would be interesting to look back at the books I’ve read in 2024 and pick my favourites.

I keep a list of the books I’ve read in a notebook. I started doing this two years ago and enjoy looking back at what I’ve read.

It’s also interesting to think about the connections between books. Sometimes one book leads to another – when I enjoy a book I actively look for similar titles I might like.

Sometimes my reading choices are led by my interests. I started learning more about the Titanic this year after my son got interested in it. And what a fascinating story it is once you get into it…

I’ve also been reading books set in World War I and learning more about the events leading up to it through The Rest is History podcast.

Favourite fiction books

These are my ten favourite fiction books that I’ve read this year. Most of these are middle grade historical adventures, written for kids aged from nine to twelve. They can also be enjoyed by adults.

Peril in Paris by Katherine Woodfine

What I liked about it: The first in the Taylor & Rose Secret Agents set of four novels, the action takes place in Paris and the made-up country of Arnovia some time around 1910. There’s so much good stuff in this novel (and the entire series) that it’s difficult to know where to begin. If you like middle-grade adventures with spies, history, exotic locations and smart, engaging protagonists then you’ll love this book.

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Septys and Steve Sheinkin

What I liked about it: This novel was my introduction to the work of two well-known American authors Ruta Septys and Steve Sheinkin. Young maths whizz Jakob Novis is recruited to the code-breaking team at Bletchely and ends up playing a pivotal role at Bletchley in cracking the ciphers of the Enigma machine. Woven through the narrative is his sister’s search for their missing mother, about who it turns out they know less than they thought. A gripping adventure with lots of historical detail.

Lydia: The Wild Girl of Pride and Prejudice by Natasha Farrant

What I liked about it: I’m not a fan of Jane Austen’s novels, I find the language too difficult to get into. But I appreciate the worlds and characters she created. Natasha Farrant’s novel brings the world of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to life by following the story of Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister. As the story develops the book explodes with life and vitality. Honestly, forget Austen, and read this instead.

Titanic: Death on the Water by Tom & Tony Bradman

What I liked about it: A short but brilliant re-imagining of a boy’s journey on the Titanic, based on documents from the National Archives. Billy know that he doesn’t want to be like his Dad and work at Harland and Wolff, the Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built. But then he gets a job on the Titanic itself, where he meets men like Captain Edward Smith, owner Bruce Ismay and the ship’s designer Thomas Andrews. Full of rich historical detail, it’s a great read for anybody interested in the Titanic’s story.

The Mona Lisa Mystery by M.A. Bennett

What I liked about it: This is the third in M.A. Bennett’s The Butterfly Club series. Every book I read in this series increases my admiration for the author and what she’s achieved. In this story the time travelling adventurers team up with Harry Houdini and travel to the Louvre museum in Paris, 1911, to steal the Mona Lisa. It’s a brilliant example of weaving real historical events and characters into an exciting adventure story.

Lines of Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen

What I liked about it: Before I read this book I didn’t know much about the first World War, the events leading up to it and the geography and politics of Europe during that time. This novel filled in many of the gaps. It follows the stories of five children from different empires caught up in the horrific events of the war.

Here in the UK we’re familiar with events from the British point of view and the trench warfare of the Western Front. This book widens that perspective and explores the fates of other countries involved in the conflict. A must read for anybody interested in learning more about this dreadful war.

Flight by Vanessa Harbour

What I liked about it: I’m always interested in stories that show me something new. This novel follows the story of Jakob, a Jewish boy sheltered by Herr Engel in rural Austria in World War II. Together they guard the Lipizzanner stallions they know Hitler wants to steal. When a German officer finds the horses they realise they have to get them to safety, undertaking a perilous journey across the Austrian mountains through Nazi held territory. A beautiful story that explores the meaning of love, friendship and loyalty.

Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus

What I liked about it: This is another of those books that showed me a story that I knew nothing about – the lives of children from the United States with family fighting in World War II. I also read the author’s debut novel A Place to Hang the Moon this year and loved them both. Two beautifully written, touching, lyrical stories exploring the themes of family, love and war.

We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad

What I liked about it: Before I read this book I knew nothing about East Prussia, which during World War II was a part of Germany separated from the rest of the country by Poland. After 1945 it ceased to exist, becoming the Russian enclave Kaliningrad. Nor did I know anything about the wolf children, orphaned childred left behind as the Red Army invaded the territory. This emotional story follows the adventures of Liesl, Otto and their baby sister Mia, three Prussian children lost in a war zone.

The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear

What I liked about it: This is the final book in Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series. It’s the only adult book in this fiction list and it’s here because it’s the finale to my favorite fiction series.

The books follow the story of lady detective Maisie Dobbs through the interwar period to the aftermath of World War II. There are so many brilliant things about them that all I can is recommend that you read the lot. If you like historical fiction and detective stories, you’ll love them.

Favourite non-fiction books

I don’t read as much non-fiction as I do fiction, so there’s just five books listed here.

A Wounded Landscape by Marc Wilson

What I liked about it: This book brings together three of my favorite things: history, storytelling and photography. Marc Wilson combines the stories of holocaust survivors with photos of the modern landscapes, both urban and rural, where the events took place. It’s an enormous volume, over 700 pages, that takes time to read and appreciate. If you love photography, and like supporting the work of photographers by buying photo books, then this is worth your consideration.

Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives by Alice Loxton

What I liked about it: The stories of eighteen people from British history, told through their eyes at age eighteen. A simple but brilliant idea. The author knows her stuff and I learned more than I thought I would. My favorite people to read about were Richard Burton, Rosalind Franklin and Vita Sackville-West. I wonder who yours will be?

Impossible Escape by Steven Sheinkin

What I liked about it: Impossible Escape tells the story of Rudolph Vrba, a Slovak Jew who escaped from Auschwitz in 1944, aged only 19. I first heard Rudolp Vrba’s story on an episode of The Rest is History podcast, which featured journalist Jonothan Freedland (who wrote a book for adults about Vrba called The Escape Artist).

Vrba’s story is amazing not only because he successfully escaped, but because the rest of the world was at that time unaware of the mass killings taking place in Auschwitz. His testimony brought the horror of the holocaust home to the wider world and is credited with saving 200,000 lives.

It’s a book for kids, but still a harrowing read.

Tales of World War II: Amazing True Stories from the War that Shook the World by Hattie Hearn

What I liked about it: It’s a beautifully written and illustrated book about the second world war for older children. The focus is on true stories about ordinary people during the war, including a Canadian cabin boy who avoided German U-boats crossing the Atlantic, the Navajo soldiers who developed a secret code to outwit their enemies, an African-American jazz singer who worked as a spy for the French Resistance. Read and enjoy.

Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII by Sally Deng

What I liked about it: Another illustrated book for older kids, this one tells the story of three female pilots from America, Britain and Russia who dreamed of flying for their countries during the second world war, at a time when few women were allowed to do so. It’s an inspirational story of two types of courage, the courage required to fight in a war, and the bravery to take on patriarchy and sexism at home.

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